We Are Different But the Same....

My husband's cousin said to me a few weeks ago that they loved how my three boys were so different and how we allowed them to be different.  They appreciated how my husband and I "celebrated" their differences.  The following week someone else not even previe to the previous conversation or related made the same observation, "how different my three boys were and how they admired that about our family.
I was actually taken back by the comments.  In reality, I've always known that they are different from one another but I always thought everyones' kids were, right?
I have a "mighty hunter."  I have a "farmer." And last but not least our "athlete."  I don't know if "celebrate" is the word to describe how we raised them, but I do remember when my oldest was little and he didn't understand why is brother wasn't like him.  I shared with him that God made us all different for a reason.  First of all, it would be so boring if we were all the same but also that God made us different so we all had different roles and jobs in this life.  God made farmers so non-farmers like myself can go to the store and purchase their products. I am grateful that I gave birth to a "farmer" so I can reap the benefits of the garden he's grown.  I can't grow anything green.
I had the awesome privledge of speaking to the women of our church at our yearly prayer retreat.  Before I began with what God had laid on my heart for our time together I shared with them that God had made me a "passionate" person and not to misunderstand my passion for judgement but that it was just how God made me.  One of the ladies later shared with me how she has a granddaughter who is very passionate and realized that day that God made her that way, different than they other family members.

Romans 12: 4 -13

"For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same

function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually member one of another.

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them

accordingly; if prohecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who

teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;

 he who gives, with liberality;

he who leads, with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness.  Let love be withouthypocrisy. 

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;

give perference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit,

serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."

I was 18 when I made a profession of faith.  I knew I needed a Saviour to save me from my sin.  I strived to dress, act and do like a "young Christian woman" should dress, act and do.  I struggled with my sin and I struggled with the "whys" in my life.  I didn't understand why He did why He did.  I struggled to be conformed to the image of a "Christain woman".  I struggled with my will over His will for my life.

I left the church within the year of my profession of faith.

Three years later I rededicated my life to Christ.  I had no more "whys" because now I knew my need for my Saviour and my Lord. I no longer asked why because I saw His Soverign Hand in my life.   I knew that He needed to do the transforming work in me,  not me.  He put women in my life who showed me His grace.  He showed me through the example of these women ....that I can snort when I laugh because He gave me my sense of humor.....when I have nothing in my pockets to give I can open my home and serve Him by serving others .....I can be a strong woman but also a submissive wife.....that becoming a believer doesn't mean that I have no joy in my life but instead my face lights up with the "joy that surpasses all understanding" no matter what my day entails.

God made us all different to display His glory in us, not for our own glory.  It's what He's doing in my life to change me.   It's His work in me, not my work in me.  I don't have to conform to the image of a "Christian woman"....because when He saved me He made me a woman who wants and desires to be "Christ-like".  He is conforming me to the image of Christ. Thank you Jesus for your grace.